Toy



Oct. 24, 1939. N. FULTON 2,177,211

TOY

Filed July 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Get. 2% 1939,. N. FULTON 217mm TOY Filed July 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y,

N. FULTON Oct. 24, i939,

TOY

Filed July 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

rIhis invention relates to toys, and more particularly to toys of the sounding type.

An object of this invention is to provide a toy which .mayA be readilyused by children, or even 5 by grown-ups, as a source of amusement.

Another' object of this invention is to provide a toy which can be made of relatively light weight vmaterial which can be readily cleansed to keep the toy in a sanitary condition.

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination with a sounding toy of this character means whereby the tone of the sound ymay be varied by the player.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, 1li the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan, partly broken away, of a device constructed according to an embodiment ofthis invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan, partly broken away, of a modified form of this invention.

Figure 4 is a top plan of a further form of .this invention.

@30.A Figure 5 is a top plan of the sounding disc ,used with the device shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the sounding disc.

.Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line Lzu; 1 1 of Fig. 4. Y

Figure 8 is a top plan of a further modification of this invention.

. Figure 9 is a top plan of the sounding plate or member used with the forms shown in Figs.

1,3 and 8. f

'Figure 10 is an end elevation of the sounding member shown in Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a detail side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a tone modulator for use with this invention.

Figure 12 is a front elevation, partly broken away and in section, of the 'tone modulator combined with the sounding device. y

Figure 13 is a; detail side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a further modification of this invention.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and in section, of a modified u "form of tone modulator.

Figure 15 is a perspective View of another form of this invention.

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a further form of this invention. Figure 17 is a perspective view, partly broken 5 away, of a further form of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like sym- 'bols refer to like parts throughout the several views, the numeral l5 designates generally an oval or elliptical frame which is preferably con- 10 structed of a tube, and which is provided with a slot. I6 on the inner portion thereof in which a plate l1 is mounted. The plate l1 is constructed of relatively thin metal, and the body of the plate Il' is provid-ed with a plurality of spaced 15 apart and transversely extending parallel slots I8 which form sounding reeds after the manner of a comb.

The opposite ends of the frame member l5 are provided with outstanding lugs or enlargements 20 i9, and a handle 20 in the form of a hook or loop is secured as by a rivet or other fastening device 2l. A sounding plate or member 22 in the form of an oval or elliptical shaped sheet of paper is adapted to engage within the frame I5 against one sideof the plate I1. The device is then placed against the lips of a person, with the sheet 22 pressed against the lips and a buzzing sound made which will have the effect of causing the sheet 22 to vibrate and produce a pleasing sound 30 which4 can readily be varied by the voice of the player.

In Figure 3 there is disclosed a frame structure 15a which is similar in every detail to the frame l5 of Figure 1, having a slotted plate Ila 35 secured therein, and a sounding sheet 22a is adaptedto engage within the frame 15a and to be pressed against the lips of the player. The frame 15dv has an elongated looped handle 23 secured to one end thereof, the handle 23 being preferably made from a piece of relatively stiff wire with the 'ends thereof welded or otherwise `secured to an end of the frame i5a.

-The toy disclosed in Figure 4 is constructed 'in the form of an inverted cup-shaped member, 45

recessed portion 25, being disposed in outwardly spaced relation to the fiat perforate portion 25. kBy offsetting the central portion of the frame member 24 there is provided a seat to receive 14a sounding disc 28, shown in Figures 5 and 6, in 55 the form of a sheet of paper of suitable thickness cut in the form of' a disc. The frame 24 has a handle 29 secured thereto, the handle 29 b-eing welded or otherwise secured to the frame 24.

In Figure 8 there is disclosed a further form of this invention, and in this form the frame of the device is constructed from a piece of wire which is looped or bent to form a looped frame member |527, and one end of the frame |5b is continued to form a looped handle 23h. A wire 38 is wound about the frame |5b with the strands of Wire spaced apart the desired distance to form sounding reeds. The sounding sheet 22h shown in Figures 9 and 10 is adapted to be used with this form of the toy and is placed against one side thereof in contact with the wire 30.

Figure 11 shows a tone modulating means for use with this device, and this modulating means comprises a cup-shaped resilient body provided with an open side which is adapted to engage against a side of the reed, and this body 3| is shaped in side elevation as a fragmentary sphere, and in end elevation the body 3| is shaped as a parabola. A plurality of gripping members in the form of rings 3 2 are secured to the bottom of the modulator 3|, and the fingers of the player are adapted to extend through these rings 32 so that the modulator 3| may be rmly held in one hand. Figure l2 shows the manner in which the modulator is used, being placed on the toy on the side of the reed opposite from the sounding sheet.

Figure 13 shows a further form of this invention, and in this form the body of the device is constructed in the shape of a ball, including the semi-spherical frame sections 33 and 34. The

frame section 34 is provided with a handle 35 which is fixed thereto, and the frame section 33 is hinged as at 36 to the frame section 34, the

handle 35 being out out, as at 31 so as to permit the two frame sections 33 and 34 to snugly engage each other. Suitable locking means (not shown) may be provided to secure the frame members 33 and 34 together.

The frame member 33 has an annular cut out portion 38, and an inwardly extending ange 39 denes the edges of this cut out portion, and

`also provides a means for holding a plurality of vparallel bars or wires 4I] which form sounding reeds. Y

The frame member 34 has a cut outy portion 4| directly opposite from the cut out portion 38 of the frame member 33, and a perforate plate 42 is secured to a ange 43. A disc similar to the disc 28 is adapted to be used with this ball shaped toy, the disc 28 being placed against the reeds formed by the bars or wires 40, whereas a hand may be placed against the open portion of the frame member 34 and moved back and forth, that is toward or away from the plate 42, thus serving as a modulating means for the sound passing through the device.

In the use of this device, where the devices shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 8 are used, the sounding sheet is placed against the reeds within the frame, and the sheet then pressed against the lips of the player. The player may then make a sound through his lips which will act asa means to vibrate the sheet against the reeds. Where the device shown in Figures 4 and 7 is used, the sheet 28 is placed in the recessed central portion against the reeds formed by the bars 21. One hand may be placed against the opposite or concave side of the frame 24 and moved toward or away from the frame 24 so as to modulate the tones passing through the holes 26 in the plate 25.

The modulator 3| may be used with any of the open frame constructions, and the modulator 3| may be compressed during the playing of the device or may be rocked on one edge thereof, or maybe moved toward or away from the reeds, thereby forming a modulator which may be used in any desired manner to vary the tone or sound from the reeds.

In Figure 14 there is shown a modulator 3|' similar to the modulator 3|, except that the rings 32 are replaced by a ring 38 which engages in an offset portion 44 which is struck from the material of the modulator 3| The paper 22 which in Figure engages against the reeds |8 may be firmly held against the reeds by means of Aopposed clips 45 which engage over the frame |5 and have their outer ends secured by the rivets 2|. In this manner the player need .not hold the sheet 22 against the reeds |8 during the. playing of the instrument.`

, Figure 15 shows another form of this toy in which there provided a hollow loodi7 46 which is open at each end and is substantially rectangular in transverse section. This'body 4B is provided with reeds 41 along one side thereof, and longitudinal guides 49 are disposed along the opposite edges of the reeds 41. A sheet of paper 48 is adapted to be positioned against the front side of the reeds 41 with the opposite edges thereof engaging in the guides 49. This paper 48 is inserted in the guides 49 from either end thereof. In this form the open ends of the bodyr45 provide means whereby the hands of the player may be used to alternately cover .and uncover these ends so as to vary the character of the sound produced by the vibration of the paper 48 against the reeds 41.

A hollow body 45a is shown in Figure 16 which is round in transverse section, being constructed from a tube or the like. A reed 41a. is carried by the body 46a and a sheet of paper 48a. is adapted to be held against the reeds 41a. by means of clips 45a.

Another form of this toy is shown in Figure 17,

lwherein there is provided a body5|i of hollow construction which is provided with an inner reed carrying portion 5| in which reeds 52 are mounted. An outer enlarged body 53 is secured :i

to the inner portion 5l by means of a reduced neck portion 54, and this outer portion 53 is Y provided with an opening 55 through which the sound is adapted to pass. A paper disc 56 is positioned against the reeds 52, and this inner end 5| is adapted to be placed in the mouth of the player, or may be placed against the lips, with the neck 54 constituting a handle for holdingthe toy. A hand may be placed against the opening 55 so as to alternately cover or uncover this opening and thus vary the sound passing through the Vbody 50.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy as set forth comprising in combination,

a frame, reeds in the frame, a sheet removably' movably engageable against the Side of the reed means opposite said sheet, said modulating member having an open side adapted to confront said reed means.

3. A toy as set forth comprising in combination, a frame, a reed means carried by the frame, an imperforate sheet engageable against said reed means, a hollow yieldable modulating member engageable against the side of the reed means opposite said sheet, and finger engaging means carried by said member.

4. A toy as set forth comprising in combination, a frame, a reed means carried by the frame, an imperforate sheet engageable against said 

